Auto salvage bid.com vehicle auctioning system

ABSTRACT

An online automobile auction, which allows the consumer to participate by using their home computers and accessing the system via an internet connection. Before the designated time for an auction, the consumer may access the database of available automobiles. Along with displaying visual depictions of the vehicles, the computer system affords the consumer the ability to access statistics on the current inventory of vehicles. Prior to the auction, using an automated auction feature, a plurality of bidders input their minimum starting bid, the maximum bid and the incrementing value. Bidders are also allowed to bid on vehicles during the auction process.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of pendingU.S. application Ser. No. 10/722,662 filed on Nov. 26, 2003, which is acontinuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of prior U.S. applicationSer. No. 09/649,876 filed on Aug. 28, 2000, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to vehicle auctions and specifically tovehicle auctions augmented by the use of computer systems and networks.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present invention relates generally to the auctioning of items viaelectronic media. More specifically, the invention relates to theauctioning of automobiles between people or business entities accessingthe auction system via personal computers or network based terminals.

Due to the success of auctions, some in the motor vehicle industry haveattempted to bring the idea of the automobile auction into the realm ofmodern technology by utilizing the internet and personal computers toestablish on-line auctioning systems In order to shorten the auctionprocess, prior art online auction systems set time limits on the actualauction. In these prior art auction processes, the time limits areestablished before the auction begins and the bidder is often hurriedand thus may not receive the full advantage of the auction process.

Also, in many prior art auction systems, vehicles are posted for a two,three or even a four week time period. This extended posting and biddingprocess forces the bidder to check back with the auction site day afterday to find out whether they have been outbid.

What is needed is a system that will allow the user a reasonable amountof time to decide on whether or not to bid and yet control the overalllength of time for which an action may exist. Another attribute neededin the online auction system hinges around allowing users or especiallyautomobile dealers to actively place their vehicles into the auctionprocess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows a person with access to a computer toparticipate in an active automobile auction. The system employs internetconnections, along with servers and databases, in order to allow theuser the choice of either participating directly in the auction, as itoccurs, or submitting a maximum and a starting bid preceding the auctionand allowing the system to notify the user of the results.

In comparison with the prior art systems, the present invention realizesinnovations in the auction process such as establishing an auctiontimer, which is designed to reset once a bid higher in value than thehighest bid on record is placed. This timer thus regulates the overallamount of time an auction will last, while allowing a user a reasonableamount of time to best a prior bid. Using the auction schedule feature,in combination with the timer system, a user can place bids prior to theauction and also become involved in the active auction process. Thus byutilizing the present invention, a busy professional user may alsoattend the auction at a designated time and bid quickly. This leaves theuser the flexibility and the time to bid on other vehicles beingauctioned simultaneously.

Another innovation of the present invention simulates the actual processof choosing a vehicle from an automobile sales lot by establishing the“Walk the Line” function.

In addition to those innovations, the present invention allows users toenter their vehicle into the sales or auctioning realm through aninteractive menu called “Selling Your Vehicle.”

Finally, the present invention also allows the user the chance to seeand hear the vehicle perform upon engine start up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the Bidding Process including the routing ofthe reset timer system

FIG. 1.1 is a depiction of the Top Ten Bids List as it will appear tothe user

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the interrelation between the bidding processand the vehicle purchasing process, illustrating the routing of thesoftware upon user choices.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the routing of the bidding system as thebids are monitored by the allowable increment and the maximumautomatic-bid.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the routing of the software that occursduring simultaneous bidding.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when selecting the “Sell Your Vehicle” option.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when depressing the “Sales List” button on the MainMenu.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when depressing the “Search and Bid” button on the MainMenu.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when depressing the “Walk the Line” button on the MainMenu.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when depressing the “Vehicle/Part Locator” button on theMain Menu.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters and the routing involved when depressing the “AuctionSchedule” button on the Main Menu.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects the “Register as a Bidder” buttonon the Main Menu.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects the “Auction Watch” button on theMain Menu.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects the “Member Log On” button on theMain Menu, including the routing of any selection from the MemberOptions screen.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects a photograph, as viewed from the“Vehicles In the Spotlight” block, from the Front Page of web site orthe Main Menu.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects the “More Spotlight Cars” block,from the Front Page of the web site or the Main Menu.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the routing of the software and the screens auser encounters when the user selects the “Auto Bid” block, from theMain Menu.

FIG. 17 is a graphic representation of the system hardwareconfiguration, illustrating the network and user access terminals.

FIG. 18 shows the Main Menu and Front Page for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 19 shows the Welcome page for the website, as it appears uponaccess by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 20 shows the screen entitled “Sell Your Vehicle” for the website,as it appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 21 shows the first of the Sales List screens for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 22 shows the second of the Sales List screens for the website, asit appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 23 shows the third of the Sales List screens for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 24 shows the fourth of the Sales List screens for the website, asit appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 25 shows the first Search and screen for the website, as it appearsupon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 26 shows the second Search and screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 27 shows the third Search and screen for the website, as it appearsupon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 28 shows the Bid screen for the website, as it appears upon accessby a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 29 shows the Confirm Bid screen for the website, as it appears uponaccess by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 30 shows the Walk the Line screen for the website, as it appearsupon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 31 shows the first Vehicle/Part Locator screen for the website, asit appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 32 shows the Auction Schedule screen for the website, as it appearsupon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 33 shows the first Auction Watch screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 34 shows the second Auction Watch screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 35 shows the Bidder Registration screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 36 shows the first Member Log On screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 37 shows the Member Options menu screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 38 shows the Simultaneous Bidding screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 39 shows the second Confirm Your Bid screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 40 shows the Your Selling History screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 41 shows the Your Buying History screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 42 shows the Auction History Sales List screen for the website, asit appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 43 is an example output box a user would receive by making aselection from the Auction History Sales List screen for the website, asit appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 44 shows the Information/Photographs Page screen for the website,as it appears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

FIG. 45 shows the Damage Descriptions screen for the website, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As described above, FIGS. 1-16 give a data base view of the routing ofthe software and the sequencing of the screens for the user interfacewhen a selection is made from the Main Menu. The user interface screenswill be discussed in detail in FIG. 18-FIG. 45.

FIG. 17 is an overview of the hardware components utilized in operatingthe system. A plurality of computers are networked and provided accessto a plurality of database server along with a plurality of mail serversvia internet connections. A plurality of users located at User terminals1, are connected to the auction system via separate Internet 2connections. The connection via the Internet 2 allows the users to gainaccess to the web server 3. The Web Server 3 “houses” the system andallows the user to operate the system in a real time capacity. Housedwith the web server 3 are the Applications 4, Vehicle/Video 5, andTemplate servers 6, which provide support to the array of screensemployed by the web site and the digital images of the vehiclespresented for sale or auction.

In order to actively purchase or bid upon a vehicle, the user must haveaccess to the Database Server 8. This server, like all servers in thesystem, acquires scrutiny from unwanted access through a plurality ofprotection mechanisms called Firewalls. Database Server 8 is protectedby a Firewall 7 and access in to the Database Server 8 cannot be gainedwithout providing certain information, prompted for when a user attemptsto register as a user for the first time. In much the same manner, theSell Your Vehicle Mail Server 13, and the Input Computer 10 areprotected by Firewall 12 and Firewall 11 respectively. These firewallsprevent the user from damaging or un rightfully accessing theinformation retained on these servers.

The Sell Your Vehicle Mail Server 13 allows registered, as well asunregistered users, to input information regarding a vehicle they wouldlike to put up for sale or auction. The vehicle information is thenrouted to the Input Computer 10 to be applied to the Database Server 8to be utilized for future sales and auctions.

The Database Server Firewall 7 also protects the Input Computer 10 andthe Bank System 9 from unauthorized access. The Bank System 9 allows theuser to make payment on-line with a credit card or bank card.

Once attached to the Web Server 3, a registered user can access the fullcomplement of screens and sell, purchase, or partake in an activeauctioning process upon a vehicle. Once a user selects a vehicle topurchase or presents the winning bid in an auction, the user receives ane-mail from the Mail Server 14. The user will then be informed that hispurchase has been approved through the Bank System 9.

FIG. 18 shows the Main Menu and Front Page for the web site, as itappears upon access by a user, arrived at via the Internet. This pageserves as the control center screen and main menu for the sales andauctioning system. This screen allots the user eight main functionbuttons, fourteen selectable option buttons in total, with which tooperate the system. These buttons trigger different facets of the website and allow the client to interact with the web site. The mainfunction buttons are located across the top of the main menu screen(listed 15-26).

The Welcome button 15 relays the user to the Welcome page, (FIG. 19),which is designed to orient the user and inform the user of the featuresoffered by the web site, and the auctioning system specifically. TheSell Your Vehicle button 16 leads the user to the screen entitled “SellYour Vehicle” (FIG. 20). As will be discussed, this screen acts apreliminary step to gather information about a vehicle before heading tothe vehicles location for photographs and allows users to enter theirvehicle into the sales and auction process.

Selecting the Sales List button 17 leads the user to the first of theSales List screens (FIG. 21). As will be discussed, this screen and theSales List screens that follow it (FIGS. 22-24) allow a user to choose aregion and be provided with the list of auctions in that regionincluding dates and times.

Depressing the Search and Bid button 18 will lead the user to a screenwhich walks the user through a series of steps (FIGS. 25-27), themotivation for which is to search for a certain make, model, and year ofvehicle as specified by the user.

The next available button, the Walk the Line button 19, leads the userto the Walk the Line screen, which gives the user a side by side visualdisplay of the cars available at each auction (FIG. 30). TheVehicle/Part Locator button 20 allows the user to utilize the Searchcapabilities of the system to scan the databases in order to acquirenames of dealers of certain types of vehicles, within proximity of theuser. The provides the output shown in FIG. 31.

By accessing the Auction Schedule button 21 the user is led to a seriesof calendar based screens, each of which displays a certain month andthe auctions occurring on each specific day of that month (FIG. 32).

The final button listed among the eight main options is the AuctionWatch button 22, which relays the user to the Auction Watch screen (FIG.33-34). This function allows a user with an existing account to choose aspecific auction in progress and view the bidding process as it occurs.

Along the side of the main menu screen are positioned three morebuttons, (23-25), The Register As A Bidder button 23, once accessed,leads to a Bidder Registration form (FIG. 35). On this form, theprospective bidder is allotted spaces to provide the needed informationto get clearance for usage of the bidding process.

Located directly below the Register As a Bidder button 23 is the AutoSalvage News button 24. Accessing this portion of the system brings theuser to a regularly updated news letter which reports on the happeningswithin the Auto Salvage system. Located directly below this button isthe Chat Room button 25. This button leads the user into an environmentwhere free discussion regarding the site, the vehicles, and other suchtopics may occur.

Moving to the very top of the main menu, the user may access the MemberLog On button 26. This button allows registered users to access theiraccount and begin bidding quickly by leading the user through a seriesof short menus (FIGS. 36-43) Positioned below the Member Log On button26 is the Help button 27. This button provides the user with using andmanaging the system when questions arise.

Occupying a major portion of the Main Menu screen (FIG. 18) is theVehicle in the Spotlight Board 28. This Board acts as a regularlyupdated advertiser for the sale and auction of vehicles. A plurality ofvehicles are listed with pertinent information regarding each vehiclelisted contained on the board, along with an electronic image of thevehicles. Each vehicle is given a listing of the year 29, make and model30, and a digital photograph 31 of the respective vehicle. Along withthe above information, a listed retail price 32, the sale date and time33, and the location 34 of the vehicle is listed.

Located in the lower left hand corner of the main menu screen (FIG. 18),the final feature of the screen, the More Spotlight Cars button 35,enables the user to access additional vehicles chosen to be listed inthe Vehicles in the Spotlight 28 section.

As stated above, the Sell Your Vehicle button 16 on the Main Menu (FIG.18) leads the user to FIG. 20. This screen provides the user with athree-step system for placing the user's vehicle into the auction orsales process. Step 1, Background Information 36 provides a prior userwith a account number space 37 to enter his account number. If the useris accessing the system for the first time, user information box 38 isprovided.

The user is next guided to Step 2, Vehicle Information 39. In this step,boxes are provided for the user to enter specific information regardingthe vehicle he wishes to put into the sale or auction process. Afterfilling in the vehicle information, the user is led to Step 3, SubmitYour Request 40. From here, the user need only press the SUBMIT button41, and the vehicle is entered into the process. The submission triggersa response that will inform the user of the submission and output themessage “Your request has been submitted. A representative will call youshortly to schedule an appointment.”

Selecting the Sales List button 17 from the Main Menu (FIG. 18) leadsthe user to the first of three Sales List screens (FIG. 21.). The SalesList screens (FIG. 18-21) provide the user with a regional breakdown ofvehicles to bid. The zip code box 42 prompts the user to enter his zipcode and select a state. A map 42 a of the states covered for vehiclebidding, located below the zip code box 42, is displayed. The user maychoose any of the states by pressing one of the state initial buttons.When a state initial button is clicked on, the entire alphabetized listof vehicles from the next auction date and time will appear as FIG. 22.

The Second Sales List screen (FIG. 22.) provides the user with aninformation box 43 on all vehicles in the user chosen field of vehicles.The vehicle information includes damage type, lot number, year, make,model, body, mileage, state/title, distance to the car. The distance tothe car 44 feature calculates the distance from the location of the userto the location of the vehicle using the provided network and databases,and subsequently displays this information to the user.

Several sets of vehicles available at different time increments may beviewed from the Second Sales List screen (FIG. 22). When a user clickson the Lot Number, the user is directed to the Third Sales List screen(FIG. 23), which displays a photograph gallery 45 of the vehicles andgenerates information on each of the specific vehicles in theinformation box 46. The photographic gallery 45 supplies the user withdifferent views of the vehicle interior and exterior, the vehicle engineand gives the user the choice of viewing a 15 second video of the engineduring its start up. The vehicles are listed with either an “A” or a “P”classification trailing the automobile statistics. The “A” denotes thatthe vehicle will be sold at auction and the “P” denotes that the vehiclewill be sold for a fixed price. The user will be routed to theappropriate sale or auction screen depending on how the individualvehicle chosen is classified. When a user chooses a vehicle classifiedin the “P” category, the user is routed to Third Sales List screen (FIG.23).

When the user chooses an individual picture from the photograph gallery45, the picture becomes enlarged and gives the user a clearer visual ofthe vehicle. The boxes contained in the photograph gallery 45 containelectronic images of the vehicle, showcasing the vehicle engine, apanoramic view of the vehicle exterior, the vehicle interior, and afifteen second video taped image and audio of the engine upon startingthe vehicle. The Purchase Vehicle button 47 is located below theinformation box. Selecting this button leads the user to the FourthSales List screen, (FIG. 24).

The Fourth Sales List screen displays the vehicle price 48 and allowsthe user to confirm the purchase 49. The Third and Fourth Sales Listscreens also serve the Search and Bid function 18 and the Walk the Linefunction 19. Thus, this screen becomes the default screen for allbidding evolutions.

The First Search and Bid screen, arrived at by pressing the Search andBid button 18 on the Main Menu (FIG. 18), is illustrated in FIG. 25. Thescreen displays STEP 1 50 which prompts the user to choose a make ofvehicle and provides an alphabetically arranged scrolling vehicle list51 from which to choose a vehicle make. Once the user has chosen theappropriate make of vehicle, the user can then depress the GO button 52which will guide the user Second Search and Bid screen (FIG. 26).

In the uppermost section of this screen, STEP 2 53 will be displayed.STEP 2 53 prompts the user to choose a model of vehicle and provides analphabetically arranged scrolling vehicle list 54 and the make box whichreflects the make already chosen in STEP 1 51.

Next on the screen is STEP 3 55, which prompts the user to choose astarting and ending date year for the desired vehicle from the scrollingyear BEGIN box 56 and END box 57 respectively.

Once this selection is complete, the user moves on to STEP 4 58 whichasks for the user's zip code in the ZIP CODE box 59. The system usesthis information to calculate the distance from the user to theavailable vehicle or lot of vehicles. Once the user has completed thesteps on this screen, the user can depress the GO button 60, whichroutes to user to the Third Search and Bid screen (FIG. 27).

The Third Search and Bid screen (FIG. 27) provides results for thesearch entered by the user. The upper most part of the screen contains aSearch Results box 61, which displays the range of years, make and modelfor the search vehicles. Below this, the search results will bedisplayed, beginning with the vehicle lot located the closest to theuser, and descending to the lot located furthest from the user. TheThird Search and Bid screen (FIG. 27) will utilize the Sales Listfunction to display the read out in the format of the Second Sales Listscreen (FIG. 22). The Second Sales List screen (FIG. 22) format will beappended to the Third Search and Bid screen (FIG. 27) in the Read Outbox 62 provided in the midsection of the screen.

In the lower most portion of the Third Search and Bid screen (FIG. 27)is the Number of Items Found box 63. This box displays the number ofvehicle lots found by the search database. Positioned below this is theNew Search button 64. By choosing this button, the user returns to thebeginning of the search process and may begin searching for a differentgenre of vehicle.

Once the user selects a lot number from the search results screen, thenext the user will routed to is the Detailed Information/Photographspage. Depending on whether the vehicle is listed under a fixed price,(“P”) or Auction, (“A”), the category, a purchase vehicle (FIG. 23) orplace bid/auto bid (FIG. 44) screen will appear respectively. Thephotographs are electronic images of the vehicles.

In FIG. 44, when the user selects the Automated Bid button 115, the userwill be routed to FIG. 28, which acts as a non-dynamic auctioningmechanism. The user is shown information and a photograph of the vehiclein the information box 65. The user may then enter his maximum bid value66 and minimum bid value 67. The bid increment box 68 gives a bidincrement for that vehicle, in the specific price ranges of bidding. Theuser may then press the submit auto bid button 69 to submit thesevalues. The values are then stored in the database until the auctionoccurs and then administered into the auction proceedings, all with outthe need for user involvement.

If the user chooses, he may still actively participate in the auctionusing the Confirm Bid screen (FIG. 29). This screen gives the user aseries of information regarding the active auction. The time remainingon the timer 70, total number of bids 71, and the top ten bids 72 arelisted in the respective boxes. The timer 70 starts at 2:00 minutes andcounts down until a new bid that is greater than the bid in field one isput forth. If there are no bids greater than the value in field one,then the clock runs to zero. If a bid higher than the bid in field oneis entered, the timer then resets at 4 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute andthis evolution occurs until the timer 70 runs out. There is anundisclosed minimum bid set by the seller. If this figure is not met,the effect will be a message to the high bidder that they did not meetthe minimum bid and an Auto Salvage Bid representative will contact theindividual bidder shortly. The user can actively enter new bids in thebid value box 73. The increment box 74 functions as a drop down menu,which gives the bidder the ability to increment his bid quickly ratherthan retype the bid. The message box 75 keeps the user updated on hisposition in the bidding process with written messages.

FIG. 30 displays the Walk the Line screen. The Walk the Line box 76,which informs the user that he is on the Walk the Line page. The Walkthe Line feature gives the bidder a sense of what vehicle auctions areoccurring on a given day. This function enables the user to act quicklyin bidding upon a vehicle of interest, while still keeping the userabreast of subsequent vehicles in action that specific day. Multiplevehicles may be bid upon simultaneously, by a single user, and completelots of vehicles can be held up for auction simultaneously. In thepreferred evolution, lots containing three (3) vehicles will beauctioned off every six (6) minutes.

Directly below the Walk the Line box 76 is the first display date andtime box 77. This box informs the user of the date and time when thecorresponding vehicles in this display will go on auction. Below thisbox are vehicle display boxes 78 for the individual vehicles to beauctioned at the corresponding date and time above. Each box includesthe year, make and model of the vehicle along with a digital photographof the vehicle. Once the total vehicles for a certain date and time havebeen displayed, the next date and time of vehicle auction is listedalong with the corresponding vehicle display boxes. This function givesthe user the feel of browsing a vehicle auction, while allowing the userto decide upon which vehicles he may bid. The user can access a largenumber of vehicles in this manner as all the auctions for an arbitraryperiod of time may be listed on ensuing pages and the user may accessthese pages using the scrolling mechanism 79 on the right hand side ofthe page.

FIG. 31 shows the First Vehicle/Part Locator screen. The vehicle partlocator operates in the same manner as the Search and Bid function. TheVehicle/Part Locator function follows the same 4-step process as theSearch and Bid function, in that Vehicle/Part Locator prompts the userto enter a make, model, range of years for vehicle and user zip code,moving through identical screens as the Search and Bid. The Vehicle/PartLocator then searches the databases for former auction lists to arriveat dealer addresses and outputs this information, via the Vehicle/PartLocator Search Results screen (FIG. 31). A photograph of the vehicle 80,along with a description and location of the vehicle, the distance thevehicle is located from the user and the sale date of the vehicle areshown for each vehicle listed. In this manner, the user may discover thewhereabouts of the vehicles for his corresponding part.

The Auction Schedule screen is shown in FIG. 32. The schedule isdisplayed in one month per screen format with the present month showingas the default. Located in upper most right hand corner is the NEXTMONTH button 81 and LAST MONTH button 82 which allows the user to scrollthrough the subsequent and proceeding months respectively. Below thenext month button 82 is the month indicator 83, which keeps the userabreast of what month is being accessed.

In the midsection of the Auction Schedule screen is the calendar 84 forthe month listed above. The calendar is divided into day blocks 85, oneach day block, the states 86 holding auctions on that day are listed.

The First Auction Watch screen is shown in FIG. 33. This featureprovides quick access to users who are already registered in the system.STEP1 87 prompts the user to fill in the ACCOUNT NUMBER 88 and PASSWORD89 boxes. STEP2 90 prompts the user to fill in the LOT NUMBER 91 hewishes to view the bidding on. STEP3 92 contains the GO TO AUCTIONbutton 93. Depressing this button leads the user to the Second AuctionWatch screen (FIG. 34).

The uppermost part of the screen displays a vehicle information box 94,which contains the lot number, year, make, and model of the vehicle tobe auctioned, along with the retail value, auction date and time, andlocation of the vehicle. Directly below the vehicle information box islocated a Start Time box 95 and Timer box 96. The Start Time box 95allows a user to recognize at what time the auction actually starts, incase there is a fluctuation from the scheduled start time. The Timer box96 notifies the user of the amount of time left for bidding before theexisting highest bid is named a winner. Located to the right of theStart Time box 95 and Timer box 96 is the Top Ten bids list 97. Thistable is illustrated in FIG. 1.1 and serves as a real time output of theauction process so that the user may see how the bidding system works.

The auction timer controls the amount of time allotted for said auctionprocess. A readout of the timer is displayed on said user interfaceterminals. The auction timer automatically resets upon entry of a bidhigher than the previous highest bid.

The auction timer can be set for any time interval. The timer may beused for a four minute time interval, but the preferred usageencompasses a two minute time interval, starting at two minutes andcounting down to zero. Upon expiration of said auction timer, thehighest value entered in the auction process wins the auction and thesystem user corresponding to this bid value is notified by way of ane-mail transmission.

The Bidder Registration Form is shown in FIG. 35. The uppermost box ofthis form, the User Information Box 98, provides blocks for basicinformation regarding the individual or business such as Name, Address,Telephone Number, Drivers License, and Business License. Directly belowthis box is the License Box 99 which provides blocks for any licensesheld by the user and below that is the Credit Card Box 100, whichfunctions to allow the user to forward a credit card number in order topay for all future purchases, without having to give the credit cardnumber again.

The final box, located in the lowermost portion of the form is theBusiness Certification Box 101. When completed, this box serves toexplain to the user, the terms of purchasing vehicles through thissystem. Once completed this box, along with the rest of the form,creates a contract between Auto Salvage and the user.

The Member Log On button 26 is located on the upper right hand corner ofthe MAIN MENU screen (FIG0.18). When a user depresses the Member Log Onbutton 26, the user is guided to the First Member Log On screen (FIG.36). The user encounters the Enter Your Account Number Box 102 andPassword Box 103 respectively. Next the user depresses the LOGON button104 and is guided to Member Options menu (FIG. 37). This menu gives theuser the choice of a simultaneous bidding button 105, your sellinghistory button 106, your buying history button 107, and an auctionhistory sales list button 108. Selecting the simultaneous bidding button105 guides the user to the Simultaneous Bidding screen (FIG. 38).

The Simultaneous Bidding screen (FIG. 38) provides a Lot number box 109inside which the user may enter up to three lot numbers for bidding.Once the bidder has entered the lot numbers, he may depress the Gobutton 110 and he is guided to the bidding screens described above. Upondepressing the Go button 110, the user is routed to screen displayed inFIG. 39. This screen operates in the same manner as the Confirm Your Bidscreen (FIG. 29), with the exception of displaying multiple auctionssimultaneously.

The Your Selling History Button 106 leads the user to the Your SellingHistory screen (FIG. 40), which gives the user an output of his sellinghistory, listed chronologically from the user's first sale made to theuser's last sale. The Output box 111 on the YOUR SELLING HISTORY screen(FIG. 40) gives the user the damage type, year, make model, body,mileage, sale date and sale price listed from left to right across thescreen.

When the user depresses the YOUR BUYING HISTORY button 107 on the MemberLog On screen (FIG. 36), the system guides the user to the YOUR BUYINGHISTORY screen (FIG. 41), which gives the user an output of his buyinghistory listed chronologically from the user's first purchase to theuser's latest purchase. The Output box 112 on the YOUR BUYING HISTORYscreen (FIG. 41) gives the user the damage type, year, make model, body,mileage, purchase date and purchase price listed from left to rightacross the screen.

When the user depresses the Auction History Sales List button 108 on theMember Log On screen (FIG. 36), the system guides the user to theAuction History Sales List screen (FIG. 42). The output box 113 on theAuction History Sales List screen, (FIG. 42), lists the states involvedin the auction system. Underneath each state listed, the last twoauctions that were held in that state are listed chronologically. Theuser can click on any one of these individual auctions in order to getdetails of the auction. FIG. 43 shows an example of the output box 114 auser would receive by making a selection from the Auction History SalesList screen (FIG. 42).

As another option from the Second Sales List (FIG. 22), if a userchooses a vehicle with the “A” denotation discussed above, the user willbe routed to the Detailed Information/Photographs Page (FIG. 44). Likethe Third Sales List page (FIG. 23), this page also displays aphotograph gallery 45 of the vehicles and generates information on eachof the specific vehicles in the information box 46. The photographicgallery 45 supplies the user with different views of the vehicleinterior and exterior, the vehicle engine and gives the user the choiceof viewing a 15 second video of the engine during its start up. The onedistinction between the Detailed Information/Photographs Page (FIG. 44)and Third Sales List page (FIG. 23) lies in that from the former mayenter the auction process and bid on a vehicle.

FIG. 45 shows the complete list of Damage Descriptions. Thesedescriptions appear in the respective DAMAGE boxes in either of FIG. 22,FIG. 23, FIG. 24, and FIG. 27.

1. An interactive vehicle auction and sale system comprising: aplurality of computers; a computer network enabling communicationbetween said plurality of computers; a plurality of user interfaceterminals in connection with said computer network, said terminalsutilized to display an amount of auction and sales information and toinput a series of auction bids; a plurality of databases andcorresponding database servers for storage of an amount of vehiclestatistics; an input computer in communication with said network toreceive and to route said amount of auction and sales information to aplurality of database servers; a web server in communication with saidplurality of user interface terminals and said plurality of databaseservers, through said network, said web server utilized to control saidvehicle auction and sale system, coordinate said series of auction bidsand maintain communications between said plurality of user interfaceterminals and a plurality of servers; an applications server incommunication with said network and said user interface terminals; saidapplications server containing a system software program for operatingsaid interactive vehicle auction and sale system; a vehicle image andvideo server in communication with said network and said user interfaceterminals, containing a plurality of electronic vehicle images and aplurality of vehicle video media to be accessed by said user terminals;a template server in communication with said network and said userinterface terminals, containing a plurality of templates to be accessedby said user interface terminals in conjunction with said systemsoftware program, an amount of data from said template server utilizedas a plurality of interactive computer screens; a plurality of mailservers in communication with said network, said plurality of mailservers utilized to receive an amount of auction and sales informationfrom said users; said mail servers also utilized to respond to saidusers; a plurality of protection mechanisms contained within saidnetwork to protect said database servers from unwanted access; a banksystem connection in communication with said network to enableverification of a credit line of a vehicle purchaser; and an auctiontimer, wherein said auction timer controls an amount of time allottedfor said interactive vehicle auction and a readout of said timer isdisplayed on said user interface terminals, wherein said auction timeris programmed for a predetermined amount of time such that when theauction process begins, the timer begins to decrease in time from thepredetermined time, and wherein upon submission of a higher bid than theprevious bid on record by an individual participating in the auction,the auction timer resets to the original predetermined amount of time.2. The interactive vehicle auction and sale system of claim 1 wherein,said auction timer automatically resets upon entry of a bid value higherthen a currently pending highest bid value.
 3. The interactive vehicleauction and sale system of claim 2 wherein, upon expiration of saidauction timer, system user corresponding to said highest bid valueentered in said interactive vehicle auction wins said interactivevehicle auction.
 4. The interactive vehicle auction and sale system ofclaim 3 wherein, upon expiration of said auction timer, an electronicmail transmission is sent to said system user corresponding to saidhighest bid value.
 5. The interactive vehicle auction and sale system ofclaim 4 wherein, said auction timer commences a count down process froma value of four minutes.
 6. The interactive vehicle auction and salesystem of claim 5 wherein, said auction timer commences said count downprocess from a value of two minutes.
 7. The interactive vehicle auctionand sale system of claim 6 wherein, said auction timer commences saidcount down process from a value of one minute.